Tag: majesty

Creation Testifies to God

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I love Psalm 19 and it’s message about God’s glory and the majesty of His Creation. Both creation and His Word testify to who God is and His sovereignty. Today we’ll concentrate on Psalm 19:1-4.

The heavens declare the glory of God,
    and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech,
    and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words,
    whose voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out through all the earth,
    and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,

Verses 1 and 2 speak of the unrelenting witness of creation to God’s power, might and majesty. Majesty is defined as grandeur, greatness, authority , sovereignty and is associated with a royal personage. When one looks a beautiful sunset, the Grand Canyon, a raging river or the oceans waves, you are witnessing the greatness of God and His power to create such things. They bear witness to Him and His awesome power. They continue to witness of Him night and day year after year reminding us of the eternality of God. No language is needed to see these truths as they do not speak in words but in sights, sounds, smells and touch. All people of the earth can see and experience the power of God and the wonder of His creation. They can also see God’s faithfulness to His creation as each day leads to the next and the seasons unfold annually.

The Apostle Paul used verse 4 when preaching in Rome. He was making a case for preaching the gospel to those who have never heard of Jesus or God and his conclusion is in Romans 10:17 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Then Paul uses verse 4. “But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” What I think he was saying is that man is without excuse. They many not have heard the gospel preached and yet they know there is God because all creation testifies to His power, might and being. If they missed it, they were not looking. Such was the case with the Israelites as God was there holding out His hand, speaking to them, wooing them through creation, His Word and His prophets.

What about you? Are you looking for God? Are you listening for His voice each day? He is there just as the sun rises and sets, God is there. Will you open yourself to look and listen?

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, we can clearly see God in Jesus the Son. We don’t have to just look at creation as we have the indwelling Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus to point us to God. Thankfully we have Jesus, the Holy Spirit, His Word and all creation to witness to us about God! Thanks you God for making yourself known to me.

Linda

Experiencing His Majesty, Magnified

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Psalm 8 fills me with wonder and reminds me that we can see the power of God, His beauty and majesty in His creation all around us.

Sunrise over the Sea of Galilee

O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
    Your glory is higher than the heavens.
2 You have taught children and infants
    to tell of your strength,
silencing your enemies
    and all who oppose you.

3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
    the moon and the stars you set in place—
4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
    human beings that you should care for them?
5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God
    and crowned them with glory and honor.
6 You gave them charge of everything you made,
    putting all things under their authority—
7 the flocks and the herds
    and all the wild animals,
8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
    and everything that swims the ocean currents.

9 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

Caves above Qumran

When was the last time you took a walk and were focused on the beauty around you or took a stroll at night and gazed up at the stars.? God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit we all present at creation. Genesis 1:1-2 speak of God and the Holy Spirit “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.” John 1:1-3 speak of Jesus’ presence at creation, “In the beginning the Word already existed.     The Word was with God,   and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him,  and nothing was created except through him.” John clarifies that Jesus is the Word in 1:14 “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” All that we see and hear we owe to the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)

Wildflowers in Israel.

Jesus came to earth, the Word, to bring mankind back into relationship with the Father. He was here on earth and experienced the winds of the desert, the storms over the Sea of Galilee, the mountains, roadways and the beauty of Jerusalem. Because Jesus came to earth, died on the cross and rose again, we experience his majesty through our faith in Jesus which magnifies His glory and creation. Our faith gives us a greater appreciation of the majesty of God and the creation that surrounds us. Thank you Jesus.

Linda

Experiencing God’s Joy

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As January draws to a close I look back and see the planning and goals I’ve set for 2021, the Word I’ve chosen as my focus, Joy, and the opposition we face in our troubled times. Living by faith takes courage and focus on Jesus, and it is what we are called do each day during 2021. I have written how we can have soulful joy, eternal joy and complete joy in Christ. Scripture speaks of another joy, which I’ve called God’s Joy. God has put things here on earth for our pleasure that speak of His joy. At creation God looked at what He had made and called it good, Genesis 1:10,12, 18, 21,25, and upon finishing the creation of man He said it was very good in verse 31. God created His creation for our good and His glory. In Acts14:17, Paul explains, “Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” All creations speaks of God’s glory, majesty and provision for us. Here are a few verses that speak of God’s majesty and the joy of His creation:

1 Chronicles 16: 26-27 “For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before him;
    strength and joy are in his place.

Consider Psalm 8 and David’s insights into Creator God, His majesty, power and the joy of His creation.

O Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
2     Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
    to still the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
    and the son of man that you care for him? 5 5 5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
    and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
    you have put all things under his feet,
7 all sheep and oxen,
    and also the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
    whatever passes along the paths of the seas. 9 O Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

As we look at creation we can be filled with God’s joy. He created all the heavens and the earth to reflect His glory. Today as you meditate on Psalm 8, lift your voice to God and give Him praise. He will turn you praises to joy within your heart and soul.

Linda

The Amazing Creator

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creator godGod refers to himself as Creator in Isaiah 43:15 “I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.”   In Isaiah 40:28 Isaiah speaks of the hope that this Creator brings to us, “Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
    his understanding is unsearchable.”    This Creator of heaven and earth, the one who made us and everything in the universe wants to be our King.   Isaiah’s passage tell us this creator is eternal, has unlimited energy and power, is not subject to human weaknesses like being tired, weary or falling away and His knowledge is beyond end.  

Have you ever spent time gazing at God’s creation?  Those things that we make reflect on our abilities, ingenuity, creativity, dexterity, resources and perseverance.  How much more so with God and His creation of the universe.  It speaks of His majesty, unlimited knowledge, sense of humor and creativity, grandeur and power.  Psalm 19:1-2 puts it so psalm 19 1-2eloquently, “The heavens declare the glory of God,
    and the sky above  proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech,
    and night to night reveals knowledge.”

I hope you have had some time this summer to go out and about in God’s grand creation.  Did you reflect on the Creator as you gazed at His marvelous creation all around you?  As summer wanes and we head into the busy fall season with school and multiple activities, I pray you will take some time to think about how awesome our God is and all He has created for you to enjoy.  All creation, including you, is made to bring glory and honor to God, the Creator.  Let us strive today to bring glory to Him in what we say and do.

Linda